When Kelly Mochel found out I was planning a homebirth for our second baby this past May, she wrote and asked if Mikko, our then-three-year-old, might like to read a children's book she wrote and illustrated: We're Having a Homebirth!! I was not only happy to read it but eager to review it.

So it was lovely to have a book aimed at children that accurately and simply describes what it's like to have a midwife-attended homebirth, and how an older sibling might be involved in that process.

We're Having a Homebirth!! starts off with a little introduction to the pregnancy and midwifery care by a modern-looking woman named Jenny. (I point that out only to demonstrate that, truthfully, midwives don't wear prairie skirts and smell like patchouli … except the ones who do). The narrator is an adorable sprite with black pigtails who is very excited about getting a new little brother or sister.

We are quickly bopped into the birth story proper, with Jenny's encouraging coaching and Daddy and the big sister's support. After a natural labor, Mommy pushes out a baby boy and then the placenta. The last spread shows Mommy breastfeeding and a celebratory birthday party for the new baby brother. At only 13 pages long, the story is short and sweet, but plenty adequate for the purposes of telling the whole birth story. It's also a very appropriate length for the toddler and preschool crowd who make up the likely audience.

Mikko and I both appreciated the detail it manages to go into in those few pages. He pointed out the umbilical cord, I describe what labor looks and sounds like, and seeing the baby nurse always inspires him to have his own snack. The illustrations are explicit without being disturbing (to me, at least!). I love the touches of mentioning that the mother "stops to move her hips like a bellydancer" during labor and "makes lots of great noises" while pushing " … kind of like an elephant!!!" Yes to both of those from Alrik's birth!

While it's clear that this book is a labor of love from a mama who's passionate about birth, the homespun qualities of the book just make it all the more charming. The writing is clear and helpful, and the illustrations have a pleasing video-game quirkiness to them. (For what it's worth, I love having my Sims choose home births.)

One thing I really love about this volume is the price: only $6.50 + $1.50 shipping for Canada and the U.S., $9.50 total elsewhere. You can even buy multi-packs if you want to hand them out as gifts or to midwife/doula clients. I appreciate that Kelly kept the price affordable so that pretty much anyone can buy it.

So if your family is anticipating a homebirth addition and an older sibling is wondering what to expect, I highly recommend having this book on your shelves!

Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born is a sweet story that will help you prepare young children for an upcoming birth in your family. The story opens with a little girl asking her mama to tell her the story of the younger brother's birth. The mama narrates the story beginning with the day they found out they were expecting, continuing on through midwife appointments and visits from the doula, preparing for their homebirth, and ultimately having a peaceful home waterbirth.

The older sister is involved in every aspect of pregnancy and birth preparations. She is shown participating in midwife appointments (holding a stethoscope, helping the midwife measure mama's belly), assisting with the tasks needed to ready the house for baby (folding cloth diapers), and there is a lovely picture of the sister cuddling her own baby (and perhaps even "nursing" it) while mama labors in the birth pool nearby. The father is also engaged in almost every scene - helping with laundry, setting up the birth pool, and comforting the mama during labor.

Every scene of the birth story is gentle and peaceful. It is obvious at the prenatal appointments that the family desires a low-intervention birth - the midwives are not shown using a doppler or other often standard tools. The waterbirth scene includes the mama holding the newborn baby with the umbilical cord still attached. The midwives and doula are present, but the focus is on the mama and baby.

In this birth story, the sister is not present for the actual birth. The mama says, "You wanted to play with Nana for awhile. We promised to call you as soon as the baby was born so that you could meet him right away." We are actually planning on having Kieran here with us when we have our homebirth, but we will also have someone on call in case Kieran is uncomfortable during labor or I need more preschooler-free peace and quiet.

At the close of the story, the sister arrives home to greet Max, and there are several beautiful pictures that show mama breastfeeding and the family snuggling.

Kieran has thoroughly enjoyed this book. He has been so excited to get ready for his own new sibling, and this was a very age-appropriate glimpse into another big sibling's life. Kieran has asked me several times to read this book, and he especially loves the last several pages that show the family together after Max is born.

Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born was written by Toni Olson and illustrated by S. Marie Carlson. I would recommend this book to any parent preparing a young child for the birth of a sibling - particularly if the birth will take place at home or at a home-like birth center.

It would also be a great book to gift an older sibling with who has recently gained a new little brother or sister - it would be helpful for the child to process his or her own experiences.

BUY IT!

You can purchase your own copy of Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born at TalkAboutMax.com. Hardcover copies are $15.99 plus $4.00 shipping and handling. You can use the contact form on the order page to inquire about bulk or wholesale pricing.

You can purchase your own copy of We're Having a Homebirth!! at HomebirthChildrensBook.com. A single copy is $6.50 + $1.50 shipping for Canada and the U.S., $9.50 total elsewhere. Discounted multi-packs start at $32.50 for U.S./Canada for 5 books, or $60 for 10 books.

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win one of two copies of both Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born and We're Having a Homebirth!!, enter by leaving a comment and using our new Rafflecopter system below.

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Information About Our Reviewers:

Dionna is a lawyer turned work at home mama of her amazing son, Kieran, and she is due with baby number two in late November 2011. You can normally find Dionna over at Code Name: Mama where she shares information, resources, and her thoughts on natural parenting and life with a toddler/preschooler.

"Mama, Talk About..." looks like a great, normalizing book! Though, the picture shown on the home page of their site Mama looks like a birthing goddess and Daddy seems to look worried and tired! Glad the review says there is a doula, Daddy looks like he could use some support.

I just had a homebirth in July. It was amazing. My older daughter was there for the entire process, it wold be nice to have these books to help process her experience and to share with my son when he's older when we discuss his birth story.

From the Homebirth Children's Book website, I love the illustrations on this book! And I absolutely love the page (shown in sample page) where it shows the newborn baby suckling mummy's breasts and how it helps the baby to grow big and strong and I hope to show this to my toddler that it is what his baby sister is doing too!

We had a lovely homebirth with our beautiful daughter, who is now four. We are now trying for baby #2, and as long as all goes well, we will again have our baby at home. During that time, it is my desire that our daughter be as involved as possible (in the appointments & even present in the delivery). I would love to have these books, to use as a way to prepare her for what is to come. :)

Another favorite book of ours - which is another a beautiful depiction of a homebirth, is "Hello Baby" by Jenni Overend. L-O-V-E it! <3

I am almost 14 weeks pregnant with my second child and I would love to have a book to help prepare Virginia (soon to be 2yo) for her new sibling and the home birth we are planning.

I have one book I have borrowed from my midwives that is very detailed, but not as fun looking as these books. In spite of that, Virginia asks to read about "babes" often. I think she'd really like these books, too.

Those books are such a great initiative! My daughter witnessed my homebirth 2 years ago and always comments on the mainstream hospital births shown in books or movies! This time my boy will be present too! :)

I want my daughter to understand that birth is a natural, normal process. I'm going to birthing centre for my next baby, but if all goes well (and I can convince my husband) I'll be having a homebirth with number 3 :)

We're preparing for a homebirth and our little one will be with us. We are showing her birth kids books to help her understand how natural having a baby is. This will be a great addition to the ones we already showed her. Thanks!

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Riding the rails with my husband, Crackerdog Sam, and our hobo kids, Mikko Lint Picker (born June 2007), Alrik Irontrousers (born May 2011), and Karsten (born October 2014). Trying every day to parent intentionally and with grace.